UMPSA completes First Site Evaluation for APACC Accreditation

PEKAN, 19 March 2025 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) has completed its first accreditation exercise conducted by the Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC) recently.

The three-day evaluation visit, held from 19 to 21 March, was conducted by the APACC accreditation team comprising Chief Accreditor, Professor Dr. Ramakrishna Challa, Accreditor, Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen, and Documentation Officer, Chyna Nina Clarizza T. Lorania.

UMPSA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Yatimah Alias, expressed her high hopes that UMPSA would one day become the leading TVET hub in the region and eventually at the global level.

“I also hope that UMPSA will be the first public university in Malaysia to be recognised by APACC.

“At the same time, UMPSA is always prepared to take the lead in TVET in line with current industrial needs and technological advancements.

“We are committed to ensuring that all planning is implemented smoothly in pursuit of academic excellence and human capital development,” she said during her speech at the Opening Ceremony of the UMPSA–APACC Accreditation Site Visit at the Banquet Hall, UMPSA Pekan.

She also reiterated UMPSA’s commitment to academic excellence and human resource development.

“May this effort yield excellent outcomes for the university, the country, and future generations,” she added.

Throughout the three-day evaluation, the APACC accreditation team conducted interview sessions with UMPSA’s management and academic staff to verify the evidence submitted, based on APACC’s seven criteria: (I) Governance and Management, (II) Teaching and Learning, (III) Human Resources, (IV) Research and Development, (V) Image and Sustainability, (VI) Other Resources, and (VII) Support to Students.

The accreditation team also toured UMPSA’s facilities and interviewed students and staff to further verify the submitted documentation.

On the final day of the three-day evaluation process, UMPSA Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs), Professor Dato’ Ir. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Ziad Sulaiman, congratulated UMPSA on completing the first round of accreditation with APACC.

He also expressed his appreciation to the APACC representatives for their invaluable support in guiding UMPSA on its path toward continuous improvement.

APACC is a regional accreditation body established to assess and enhance the quality of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions in the Asia-Pacific region.

It was established in 2004 under the Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) in Manila, Philippines, and serves as an evaluation mechanism to ensure TVET institutions meet international standards in various aspects such as governance, academic management, human resource development, and industry linkages.

Through the APACC accreditation process, institutions are assessed against stringent criteria that cover administrative effectiveness, quality of education and training, resource management, and community impact.

This certification not only serves as a mark of excellence but also as a continuous improvement tool for institutions seeking to enhance their operational efficiency and educational programme effectiveness.

For UMPSA, participation in the APACC accreditation process marks a strategic step in evaluating the university’s readiness to meet global standards.

Previously, UMPSA underwent accreditation processes that were more focused on academic programmes.

However, APACC accreditation introduces a new dimension by assessing the institution as a whole, which provides a more holistic perspective on UMPSA’s strengths and areas for improvement, ensuring its continued relevance and competitiveness in the higher education landscape.

By: Safriza Baharuddin, Centre for Corporate Communications and Muhammad Hafiz Aswad Ahmad Kamal, Centre for Advanced Tvet

Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, UMPSA Press